Image 01 Image 03

Trump is having trouble finding someone willing to run EPA Region 9

Trump is having trouble finding someone willing to run EPA Region 9

Perhaps the time has come to shut the San Francisco office, and have the remaining regions take over regulatory oversight?

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt has been overseeing the substantial reduction in staff of the his agency.

However, each of the 10 regional offices usually have a designated head to run the local operations. One of those regions still lacks a chief because the administration is finding it difficult to locate someone wiling to face the gauntlet of eco-activists in the San Fransisco Region 9 headquarters.

“On Tuesday, an oil and gas lobbyist from New Mexico who, according to several people inside the Trump administration, was poised to fill the post told The Times it was all a big mistake. He’d be staying put in New Mexico.

“I am not leaving my current role as Executive Director of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association for any position at EPA or elsewhere within the federal government,” said an email from Ryan Flynn.

That unwavering declaration caught some in the administration off guard. Flynn had already been spotted at EPA offices this week, where staff in the building reported he was fingerprinted, a final step before assuming the role as head of EPA Region 9.

This was at least the second time the Trump administration had an oil industry executive bow out of the running for the Region 9 job in a late stage of vetting. In other cases, candidates had been approached, but took a pass before talks got that far.

Given the death threats, cyber-harassment, and other security concerns any oil-industry candidate would face if that position was accepted, I am not surprised.

So, I thought I would give Pruitt and Trump a suggestion: Close the Region 9 office, now. Redirect all work, issues, and regulatory oversight to one or more of the neighboring regions.

Problem solved.

As an extra bonus, the message that it would send to the area’s #Resistance movement would be priceless.

A contributing factor to the reluctance for applications is that California’s Attorney General is already gearing up an attack against the agency, due to the rescinding of strict emissions standards on “glider” trucks.

…Known as the 2016 Glider Rule, the regulations mandate that most engines installed in “gliders” – new heavy-duty truck bodies outfitted with refurbished or rebuilt pre-2010 highly polluting engines – meet the same emissions standards applicable to all newly manufactured engines.

“Repealing the Glider Rule is bad for our environment, for the health of our families, and for truckers and shippers who play by the rules and operate trucks with cleaner fuel-burning engines,” said Attorney General Becerra. “Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to set and enforce motor-vehicle emissions standards. If EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt decides to neglect this legal responsibility by doing away with the Glider Rule, we are prepared to take any and all action to protect the air our children breathe and the vitality and level playing field of the trucking industry, an important sector of our economy.”

The stock market is having its best start to year in more than three decades and more gains are anticipated for the rest of 2018, in part based on the rollback of draconian environmental regulations that do nothing to truly protect the environment.

Keeping the Region 9 position unfilled might just boost the economic environment just a little bit more.

DONATE

Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.

Comments

4th armored div | January 26, 2018 at 1:55 pm

what is the implications of NOT filling this post ?

Roy in Nipomo | January 26, 2018 at 2:26 pm

Being in charge of the San Francisco office of the EPA (under this administration) would definitely qualify one for hazardous duty pay (if not from the local denizens, then from Sacramento being reluctant to defend the official from, say, Antifa).

They should appoint David Clark. Just because it’d be fun to watch them fight a black guy with an attitude all day.

oh and – heh heh heh – Schumer just rejected Trump’s dreamer proposal out of hand. Will not even consider it. Heh heh heh.

    daniel_ream in reply to Tom Servo. | January 26, 2018 at 4:21 pm

    Damn, I was going to put some money on that wager between you and Rags. Left it too late.

    Say, where *is* Ragspierre, anyway?

    iconotastic in reply to Tom Servo. | January 26, 2018 at 8:59 pm

    I was wondering why Trump and the Congressional GOP wouldn’t just ignore Chucky and pass the ‘deal’ without bothering to get permission from the Dem leadership. Put Chucky in the position of filibustering a real amnesty for some illegals.

Excellent idea. Hope Pruitt reads here.

“Close the Region 9 office, now. Redirect all work, issues, and regulatory oversight to one or more of the neighboring regions.

Problem solved.”

Neat & tiddy. Fromer Pres. Lie All the Time was a master at redefine, redirect, renage or retaliate. This ‘close region 9’ move would be a page right out of his playbook, so Leftists should love it.

Particularly since California has its own massive, state funded, enviromental hydra, as witnessed by those ubiquitous printed warnings which declare ‘the State of California has determined everything will kill you, etc.’

https://calepa.ca.gov/

    I second leaving the post and office closed.
    Make eco-nuts have to go out of state and up the chain to get their goofy ideas heard. Red tape can work for conservatives too.

Hell … I wouldn’t want the job either … not in CA … and certainly not under the chaos of the Trump admin … irrespective of it’s policies …

notamemberofanyorganizedpolicital | January 26, 2018 at 5:15 pm

“Perhaps the time has come to shut the San Francisco office…”

From Leslie’s fingers to God’s eyes……

Wonder who is behind the death threats? Is it activity funded by Soros’ $18 billion in sedition money?

“George Soros Transfers $18 Billion to His Foundation, Creating an Instant Giant:”
https://www.wsj.com/articles/george-soros-transfers-18-billion-to-his-foundation-creating-an-instant-giant-1508252926

The GOPe Congress will get right on it. Boehner will be appointed special counsel.

Well golly, if we can’t find anyone to run the office we’ll have to shut it down.

Tusk, tusk.

Can we extend this principle to a few thousand other government office jobs?

the other rob | January 27, 2018 at 6:30 am

I would do it, on the condition that I could telecommute from Texas.

Any of the whiners who demanded face to face meetings could come here. Can you expense a backhoe?

Perhaps we should just close the EPA!

We have plenty of laws, plenty of lawyers and plenty judges…

well, now, as a #Failifornia Native, i’ll take the j*b.

i could use the $$, and, with all the death threats, i might finally get a CCL is this #5hithole state.

since i live in Lost Angels, i can either w*rk from home most days, then drive up and back a couple times a month.

since i’ll have the money, i can buy an old muscle car to make the commute in too! maybe a 427 Chevy or a 426 Hemi. 😎